Lawmaker cuts $10M from KU Medical Center project

Most funds set to come from private donations

A Kansas Senate committee has ratified a conservative Republican lawmaker's proposal to deny $10 million to the University of Kansas Medical Center for an expansion.

The Ways and Means Committee backed Sen. Tom Arpke of Salina on a voice vote Monday before endorsing spending recommendations for the state's higher education system.

Those recommendations overall are largely in line with Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's proposals for about $2.5 billion in annual spending.

But Brownback wanted the $10 million for the expansion of the Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. The total project is expected to cost $75 million, with the rest of the funds coming from private donations.

Arpke argues the University of Kansas isn't operating as efficiently as it could and can tap reserve funds for the project.

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